To qualify for a government rate, at a minimum you have to be a government employee. However, it is rare that the hotel requires that you be on official orders. There are a few occassions when I have seen the rate rules require that the guest be on official orders, but these are rare and are always spelled out when making the reservation.

I stay in hotels at the governnment rate frequently both on official orders and just on leisure travel, and it is rare that the desk clerk even asks for an ID. In fact, I can't remember the last time that's happened.

Some hotels have different rates for federal and state employees, but for the most part there is a single government rate, usually based on the rate allowed on official travel for federal employees.

Also, it is worth noting that the government rate is not always the lowest. Some hotels set the government rate at the rate allowed on official travel but have lower rates available.

AGS